While you’re at Habitots visit one of their classes, hang out in their playroom or enjoy the garden with sand pit and cubby house. And now for a limited time you can find the best kids cycling gear too!

JanGehl believes ‘A good city is like a good party. People stay longer than really necessary because they are enjoying themselves.’

The hugely influential urbanist, architect and humanist was in Melbourne and I was lucky enough to be in the audience.

I am so engaged by his talk that I don’t bother trying to update social media with any of his insights. So here’s a selection of #melbconvo #jangehl tweets from the night to give you a flavour of his stories of a life of making our cities happier and more liveable.

The sun was shining yet again for our latest Westie Women food ride with The Squeaky Wheel.

‘Boun appetito by bike’ celebrated everything Italian in the inner west with tour guide Joyce Watts of CycleStyle and MEL: HOT OR NOT.

In the 1950s Footscray was a centre for Italian migrants. Sixty years later eleven female cyclists joined Joyce to experience how Italian cuisine has been reinterpreted for modern Australians with a three course meal by bike.

Susan Mocarski, artist and fashion designer, put Cleverhood on the map with their distinctive American made outerwear capes.

She and Lani from Tandem NY met at the National Bike Summit’s “Forum on Women & Bicycling” and with their shared interest in fashion and biking, worked together to launch Tandem and Cleverhood’s Sweatshirt Cape.

This is no ordinary “hoodie”…

The Cleverhood Sweatshirt Cape for Tandem is designed in NYC and carefully crafted in nearby Fall River, MA. This fleece cape offers a freedom of movement plus an expression of style with plenty of room for layering underneath to adjust to the weather. There’s a handy inside kangaroo pocket with a second smaller pocket for your mobile device. The hood sports the signature Tandem coral-colored drawstring. The fabric is thick and soft and it’s machine washable.

Fall River, MA was the textile centre of the US and an industrial leader. Since 1990, Fall River has lost nearly 70% of its manufacturing jobs. The Cleverhood Sweatshirt Cape for Tandem is crafted by skilled USA garment workers.

The outdoor market is held in the forecourt between the Malthouse Theatre and the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art in Southbank every 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month, rain hail or shine.

Stallholders are picked by a design panel, with a focus on local emerging designers and producers, and divided into three precincts – the Design District, the Larder and the Heart of Dining. At each market there’s a revolving selection of furniture, lighting, homewares, accessories, fashion, jewellery, ceramics, food and produce vendors plus free children’s and adults creative workshops.

We’ll be at The Upmarket with lots of cycling goodies and market-only specials at the next market, Saturday 7 November 9am-4pm!

Notabag is a smart combination of a bag and a backpack. With a single pull on the straps, it transforms itself from a sleek eco-friendly reusable bag to an easy-to-carry backpack. Its versatility allows you to carry it in your hands as well as comfortably on your shoulders. We’re so excited to be the first Australian retailer of the Notabag!

The Notabag idea was born during Adnan Alicusic’s trip to the local farmers market. It was one of those situations that we can all identify with – the grocery bag filled up very quickly and he still had to ride his bike home.

Things got pretty tricky once he found himself in the middle of busy city traffic, trying to manoeuvre a bike with a heavy shopping bag on the handlebar, bumping against the front wheel. At that moment, he started visualising how a simple bag could be transformed into a backpack.

After spending months of prototyping and testing, Adnan and his friend and fashion designer Ilaria Gregianin, introduced a smart way to combine a bag and a backpack as a Kickstarter project. The Notabag even folds up into a small pocket for those times when you need a bag unexpectedly!

It is made in Europe from cotton and rip-stop nylon. The fabric provides the product with sturdiness and soft touch of cotton fabric, yet it is still lightweight and water-resistant like the rip-stop nylon.

Notabag has been nominated for a German design award and ranked as Frankfurt’s Top 10 startups in 2015. They recently collaborated with Swedish bike brand Bookman to make a reflective Notabag especially for cyclists. We think you’ll love it as much as we do!

From heart-stopping races to pedal yoga classes, guided bike tours and an illuminated night-time ride of spectacular City landmarks, this year’sSydney Rides Festival promises to be bigger and better than ever.

Now in its fifth year, the three-week festival will run from 10-31 October and include more than 20 events right across Sydney. Highlights include:

Sydney Rides the Park (10 October)

This family-focused launch event takes place in one of Sydney’s most beautiful open spaces, Sydney Park. It kicks off at 7:30am with morning bike-yoga sessions, a bike-powered juice lounge, the Taronga zoo-mobile, plus a BMX arena and super-cross track with breath-taking displays. Try your hand at mountain boarding or rock climbing and enjoy gourmet food. Bring the kids to try out the City’s new state-of-the-art Children’s bike track.

Sydney Rides Challenge (10-31 October)

An online competition allowing riders to clock their trips and kilometres to compete for great prizes.

Sydney Rides to Eat (10-31 October)

Visit supporting local cafes and restaurants for rider freebies and discounts during the Sydney Rides Festival.

Light the City Discovery Rides (13, 15, 20, 22, 27, 29 October)

Sign up for a stunning evening Discovery Ride showcasing the joy and exhilaration of riding at night.

Suit Ride (Ride2Work Day 14 October)

Don your business best and join city workers on a Midday Sydney Suit Ride and lunch to celebrate National Ride2Work Day.

Sydney Rides Film Night (15 October)

A selection of bicycle inspired films from around the globe at Pier 2/3, Walsh Bay

How to Cycle with Style for Women and Men (16 October)

Vélo-à-Porter’s Sarah Imm is passionate about combining riding and fashion. In this workshop at the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, Sarah will show cycling fashionistas how to cycle with style.

Dirt Film Night (16 October)

Held in an old warehouse on the harbour, Pier 2/3, Dirt will be an eventful night of off-road films, bike games and a pop-up bar.

Explore Your Wild Ride:Night Ride Workshop (17 October)

Presented by Sutherland Shire Cycling Club, beginner and intermediate mountain bike riders are invited to attend this free workshop for practical tips on riding at night. It includes a guided night ride in the Royal National Park.

Saturday Slowies (17, 24 and 31 October)

Grab your bike and join a relaxed weekend ride through Newtown and Redfern to Centennial Park. Cruise the flats or take to the hills for a more strenuous ride before returning to Marrickville for bunch at the Marrick Café.

Spring Cycle (18 October)

Join Sydney’s most iconic bike ride and choose either 12, 50 or 105 kilometres for a picturesque ride through the City. The family City Ride rides finishes in festival style at Pirrama Park, Pyrmont or make the extra journey to the final finish line at Sydney Olympic Park.

Copenhagenize Sydney (20 October)

In partnership with the Danish Consulate, this event brings together world cycling experts from Denmark.

Enjoy a guided ride around stately Hunters Hill as the jacarandas are blooming.

Light the City (31 October)

A night-time ride like no other, experience light installations and special effects on a 2.5-kilometre loop around Sydney’s stunning harbour at twilight. The closing event of the Sydney Rides Festival will kick off with a special Family Hour from 6pm-7pm. Relax at the outdoor lounge at Mrs Macquaries Point and enjoy roller racing, silent disco and gourmet food trucks.

Visit sydneyridesfestival.net for full program details and booking information.

This Father’s Day, celebrate dads everywhere and raise vital funds to support men’s health by joining the inaugural Jasco Telstra Father’s Day Bike Ride.On Sunday 6 September 2015 you can ride Melbourne’s Grand Prix Circuit, Albert Park by signing up for one of two rides – The Mattioli Challenge with 12 laps of the circuit or The Family Bike Ride, a leisurely ride that’s suitable for all ages and abilities.

There will also be special guests, delicious food, drinks and last-minute gift ideas for dad. For more information and registration click here!

The Event Village

The Event Village will run from 8.30am to 1.00pm and will be located at the Grand Prix Pit Buildings (Pit Lane) on Aughtie Drive. There will be entertainment, appearances from our charity and community ambassadors, music and opportunities to get that last minute gift for Dad from a variety of retail stalls set up in the event village.

In addition there will be activities for the kids including face painting, bike skills lessons and road safety tips for all.

Food

Enjoy breakfast, morning-tea and lunch, or perhaps a snack and a coffee from the variety of food options available in the event village. Food and coffee will be available from 6.30am to 1.00pm.

Charity Partners

You can register yourself or a team of friends and family with funds raised through rider sponsorship and donations going directly to support our charity partners beyondblue, the Movember Foundation and OzChild.

Fashion and cycling blogger Vélo-à-Porter is guest posting for CycleStyle in the coming months. The goal of Vélo-à-Porter is to inspire and encourage more women to bicycle as lifestyle, not just as sport. In this post, she shares her experience of doing a school pick up with her cargo bike!

As per usual, I left the city at 4:15pm to make dinner for the family. I park my e-bike in the garage, check that the Nihola’s battery is fully charged and go up in the lift to our apartment.

After making dinner, I left home to pick up Ofelia from after school care about 5:15pm. There was a sudden downpour at 5pm when I took the the roast potatoes out of the oven. I delayed my departure for a few minutes as these sudden downpours tend to finish as quickly as they have begun. By 5:10pm, it was nearly clear.

I went to the garage and unlocked the Nihola and rolled out of the garage. The fastest path to school is up Reservoir Street. It is a very hilly street. At the top is one of the main water reservoirs for Sydney. The reservoir is known as the Crown Street Reservoir and is the oldest water supply reservoir still in use in Australia. It has been in continuous operation since 1859.* (Source: Wikipedia) The eZee conversion makes it possible to go up the hill at a reasonable pace and with not too much effort. The owner of Bang Bang, a cafe, always waves hello as we go past.

I collected Ofelia with her school bag and violin and she was a little upset because someone had torn the straps off of her hanbok, a Korean traditional dress. She had removed the jacket because the day had become warm. Earlier that morning, I suggested that she wear a blouse underneath that morning as it was going to be warm this autumn day. I told her I would sew them back on for her and she was relieved. I said that those were the risks of wearing such a beautiful dress to school for Harmony Day. She agreed. We talked about her day as she put on her helmet and seated herself in the cabin of the Nihola. I put my sunglasses on.

We rolled to the traffic lights on Crown Street, in front of school and we waited for the red light to change. A twin cab ute passed by filled with four burly dark-haired men. They slowed down as they passed us to wave. I smiled. A few minutes later a car passed and a kissing sound emanated from the window. The light changed and we went to pick up Julius from childcare. The ride is mostly downhill. We ran into a cycling friend and I gave him a card for my blog veloaporter.com. He was full of congratulations and had a few suggestions for me. We picked up Julius at 5:40pm and were on our way home when he suddenly remembered that he was thirsty. He wailed all the way home. Of course, when we arrived home and I put the cup of water in front of him, he didn’t want it.

I told my husband Justin about the waving men and the kissing sound from the car. He said, “What do you expect? You and Ofelia are both so attractive.” My lovely husband.

The two young owners and westie locals Magarethe and Jodie have built a new kitchen, store room and brought their own spin (pun intended) on the space, with a roaring wood heater, a paint job and a kicking (pun intended again) menu of interesting dishes.

The kombucha is freshly brewed in Melbourne and the ginger and tumeric is tangy and fresh ($5). I’m told the orange is sweeter if you’re not familiar with the fermented taste of kombucha.

I try the pulled pork cigars with apple and walnut salad and smoky sauce ($18.50). It’s a decadent dish with melting strips of pork rolled up in a fried parcel – can’t really go wrong! The crunchy apples and nuts provide a textural and flavour contrast to the meat.

The bircher muesli is a wild palette of colourful elements and totally delicious, especially the coconut yoghurt which they infuse with acai and berries. It’s good value for money at $12 as you won’t be able to fit in much else afterwards.

You can’t go past a cafe menu these days without seeing smashed avo and this version comes with house-marinated feta and smoked cherry tomatoes ($16.50). It’s a generous tumble of vibrant freshness and the kombucha vinaigrette adds an interesting tangy twist to an otherwise ubiquitous menu item.

For dessert there is a selection of organic raw desserts by Torquay’s Life Seeeds. I am in love with raw desserts at the moment as it seems like a healthier way to indulge my sweet tooth. The salted caramel joy bar ($7.50) contains ‘Aztec superfoods’ but all you need to know is that it’s decadent and rich.

Giddyup Mule is a fun, friendly and healthy addition to the inner west’s bike-friendly cafe scene. Plus if you need an early caffeine hit for that morning ride they’re open 6:30am on weekdays!

MON – FRI 6.30AM TO 4OM

SAT 7- 4PM

SUN 8-4PM

We’re excited to announce that fashion and cycling blogger Vélo-à-Porter will be guest posting for CycleStyle in the coming months.

Sarah Imm is the brains behind the popular blog – and is fact a customer of ours! The goal of Vélo-à-Porter is to inspire and encourage more women to bicycle as lifestyle, not just as sport. Sarah’ style is so inspiring, particularly as she gets about town with her children.

In this post, she tells us about her Fridays with her son on the Nihola, a cargo tricycle.

Incidentally Joyce will also be leading a Culture Mamas tour of family-friendly Footscray. It’ll be a 1.5 hour walk covering some of her favourite places to take kids to eat, shop and play in her neighbourhood, with tastings en route.

To book email susie.wickes@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au with your full name, street address, contact number and selected tour. Only one tour per person and not available for group bookings of 4+ people. For more information click here.

We spotted Mikena at Flinders Street station. She’s from Boston originally and now lives in East Brunswick. Today she’d ridden from East Brunswick along the Capital City Trail to visit her friends in Footscray, then took the train back into the city before riding home again. Just goes to show that riding some of the way is ok!

Joyce from CycleStyle will be leading a tour which combines her passion for food and cycling! With our friends at The Squeaky Wheel she will be taking a small group on an 1.5 hour eating and cycling tour of Footscray, her home and one of the most diverse and delicious suburbs in Melbourne.

PEDALLING FOOTSCRAY’S FOOD ICONS is a fun way to explore Footscray’s food culture – from doughnuts to goi cuon to cannoli. Bring your appetite and your bike and get ready to eat, shop and ride!